At present, China is not only the bmw group's largest single market in the world, but also an important innovation base
This year coincides with the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO, and while witnessing the rapid growth of global trade, China has become the world's second largest economy, the largest goods trading country, the largest automobile market and the largest new energy vehicle market. Chinese per capita disposable income also climbed all the way up, reaching 187 times in 1978. In the past 20 years, a number of outstanding multinational enterprises have also emerged, which have taken root in the Chinese market, actively expanded their business, promoted the development of scientific and technological innovation, and practiced corporate social responsibility, thus winning the favor of many Chinese consumers. The BMW Group, a luxury car manufacturer from Germany, is one of the representatives.
Adhering to the principle of "China First",
Quickly respond to the needs of Chinese customers
BMW held the 2022 "New Year Online Annual Meeting" on December 16, and described the company's China strategic upgrade with the theme of "Home in China": maintaining synergy between corporate strategy and China's development goals, adhering to the principle of "China first", giving priority to the needs of the Chinese market in new product development, and continuously strengthening the co-creation and win-win situation with Chinese partners. Looking ahead to 2025, the BMW Group will accelerate electrification, digitalization and sustainable development in China, keeping pace with China.
"China first" means maintaining strategic synergy with the world while maintaining sufficient independence to respond quickly to market changes, especially at the product concept stage, taking into account the expectations of Chinese customers. BMW's success in the field of fuel vehicles has confirmed this idea, and it will continue to deepen the "China first" strategy in the process of electrification.
Accelerate the pace of electrification,
In 2025, the "new generation" model will be released
In the field of electrification, the BMW iX3 is expected to sell 20,000 units in its first full sales year in 2021. In 2022, the BMW brand will present five pure electric models to Chinese users, including the innovative BMW iX, the innovative BMW i4, and the pure electric BMW 3 Series produced in Shenyang. In addition, a pure electric flagship model will also be unveiled in the next year. By the end of 2023, the BMW Group will offer around 13 pure electric products in the Chinese market.
2025 will be an important node in BMW's strategic transformation. At that time, the BMW Group will unveil a "new generation" of models with a completely redesigned IT and software architecture, a new generation of high-performance electric drive systems and batteries, and a new sustainable concept throughout the entire vehicle life cycle. In the development of the "new generation", the specific needs of the Chinese market will still be placed in the first place. By 2025, a quarter of the BMW Group's sales in the Chinese market will be pure electric vehicles.
Develop the industrial chain of green travel,
Create a superior electric mobility experience
At the same time, BMW strengthens its partnership with outstanding domestic battery companies, energy companies and high-tech enterprises to jointly develop the upstream and downstream industrial chain of green electric mobility, and enhance its comprehensive strength in electric vehicle research and development, production and service. In 2017, the joint venture BMW Brilliance was the first to establish a power battery center among high-end car brands, and completed the second phase of the project in 2020, with a total production of more than 100,000 power batteries so far. By the end of 2021, 360,000 public charging piles will be networked by BMW.
In addition, BMW will continue to promote the upgrading of its sales and service network nationwide. More than 500 of BMW's approximately 600 dealer outlets across the country have completed BMW i business certification. In 2022, BMW will work with dealers to pilot the "BMW i Experience Store" in the city center, echoing the growing demand for new energy and new experiences from Chinese consumers.
Technological innovation drives green transformation,
Helping to achieve "2060 Carbon Neutrality"
BMW is the first automobile company to propose carbon reduction from the perspective of the whole life cycle of products, integrating the concept of sustainability throughout the design and development, supply chain, production, use and recycling stages, advocating technological innovation to drive green transformation. At the same time, BMW advocates a circular economy and the recycling of resources. BMW has set transparent and ambitious carbon reduction targets: by 2030, the average life cycle carbon emissions of bicycles will be reduced by 40% compared with 2019, and the total carbon reduction will reach 200 million tons.
BMW fully supports the Chinese government's goal of achieving carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Since 2019, the Shenyang production base has achieved 100% renewable energy power supply production. In June this year, BMW joined hands with upstream and downstream partners and supplier representatives of the industrial chain to jointly launch the "Green Transformation Initiative for the Industrial Chain" with the China Development Research Foundation. BMW actively works with suppliers and other partners to jointly contribute to sustainable development through the use of new energy technologies such as green energy, innovative material technology and manufacturing, and green electricity trading.
Adhere to open innovation,
Support the development of Chinese start-ups
Promoting technological innovation and digitalization are the two key areas driving the development of the BMW Group's business in China. BMW continues to increase its investment in innovation and accelerate the transition from "Made in China" to "Created in China". At the same time, BMW adheres to the spirit of open innovation, and through supporting the development of start-ups and cooperating with local Chinese technology companies, BMW can integrate into China's digital ecosystem faster and better meet the digital needs of Chinese customers.
As early as 2015, the BMW Group established the "BMW Startup Garage", an innovation incubator whose main function is to find high-potential startups around the world and match their solutions with the needs of BMW's business units, with the goal of becoming a bridge gateway to help startups enter the automotive market and help BMW's various business segments to contact cutting-edge technologies. In China, BMW provides Chinese start-ups with the top development platform and first-class global resources in the automotive industry through systematic selection and incubation work, helping young Chinese enterprises to combine advanced innovative technologies with the future development needs of the automotive industry and promote the commercial application of innovative technologies.
At the "Auto Show Area - Innovation Incubation Zone" of the Expo in November this year, the "BMW Start-up Garage" brought innovative products from 15 start-up companies, of which 7 were recommended by the "BMW Start-up Garage" and have cooperated with BMW, including: autonomous driving, intelligent transportation solutions, intelligent robot systems, new materials and other fields.
In addition, BMW actively cooperates with local technology companies in China to achieve a win-win situation. For example, the joint innovation base in Shanghai was officially launched in May this year, marking another achievement of open innovation advocated by BMW. At present, more than 20 start-ups have settled in the base, and their technologies cover strategic innovation areas such as digitalization, electrification and sustainable development.
As a "century-old brand" in the automotive industry, BMW has long formed its own position in the fuel vehicle market, and for the increasingly popular pure electricity field, all traditional brands can be said to have returned to the same running line, but it is clear that BMW has already done a long-term plan for electrification products, energy replenishment networks, and technology incubation and innovation. The BMW Group will continue to base itself in China, seek high-quality and sustainable development, and contribute to the development of scientific and technological innovation in China.